Hope
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My understanding of the seminar series was that it was part of the Forum: one cannot attend the series without taking the Forum because it was a package deal. I guess then if one participated in est, they could take whatever they wanted to in the "new and improved" LE
Generally this is correct, however graduates of EST can participate in I believe up to four seminar sessions (Out of ten) with out having done the landmark forum (things may have changed since I was on staff). They can not do the advanced course or SELP or the communication courses without having done the Landmark forum.
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Another reason I asked about the series is because my naturopath implied that he was able to attend many courses as a reviewer simply because he was a "professional". While he was taking these courses when I was seeing him as a patient, he told me he was reviewing self-improvement seminars as a professional. He just didn't tell me it was LE. It wasn't till almost 2 years later he told me he had taken everything they offered. Now I know that if he was reviewing, he must have been involved way back, probably even before I met him.
Any one can review any of the courses once they have done them. While on staff I had to review the landmark forum and advanced course and I ended up reviewing most of the courses. (staff and ex staff dont pay for reviewing or doing courses)
There are very few "professionals" that landmark would pay to review the forum unless that professonal was going to write a "landmark is great" review for them
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Our seminar series was so pathetic it was laugh-out-loud funny. One of the Forum volunteers\customer service reps was our series leader and she told us her biggest dream is to become a Forum leader. Her crocodile tears were so poorly executed that many of us couldn't contain ourselves. The sales pitches took up 3/4 of the sessions. Half our group dropped out by session #3. The focus on sales and the poor presentation by this leader was also great ammo for getting my refund, BTW.
All LFIA leaders seem to have the crocodile tears down pat, i wonder if they practice at their seminar leader weekends?
A few years ago landmark made a concious effort to move away from the pressure. HA what this meant is that they talked to every one and said ... accept a No but question it if you can. Landmark pressure sales almost from the word go. I remember my forum in action leader told us the "i am working on being a landmark forum leader" just about everyone in leadership wants that. I remember on a staff weekend conference everyone was asked who was committed to being a landmark forum leader Myself and the regional manager were the only ones who didn't put up our hands.
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A participant in my group who had also attended my Forum was friends with a volunteer who said the leaders and volunteers really caught hell for not recruiting enough people for the Advanced seminar
You would not believe the "hell" they (and I in the past) receive. And this is for all courses! I remember one week when the office was miles from meeting their weekly target, the other staff were away and i was there by myself. the regional manager rang and yelled at me for 25 minutes. I dont think I was inspired to register people but i was sure as hell scared to not do it!
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I must say that it certainly was the biggest bunch of skeptics I've ever seen in one room. The ones who participated the most clearly were plants, as I've read transcripts on pro-Landmark sites that were word-for-word what came out of the mouths of the "stars" in my group.
In New Zealand there are no plants but there are always reviewers and if the person is active or on staff or the such I know sometimes the forum leader will talk to them about participation. When I reviewed I know I was challenged by the course leader to speak up lots.